Ten Arrested on Various Drug and Gun Related Charges in Vacaville and Shasta County

Police in Vacaville made 10 arrests this week on a variety of drug- and weapons-related charges as part of a comprehensive investigation. Conducted with the help of the Shasta County Sheriff’s Office, search warrants were served in the 1500 block of Alamo Drive in Vacaville; the 200 block of Santa Cruz Street in Fairfield; and three, 40-acre properties in West Shasta County on Wednesday and Thursday, police said.

The operation was initiated by detectives who developed information about an illegal supply of marijuana coming into Vacaville, according to police. In Shasta County, roughly 247 marijuana plants were seized along with more than 200 pounds of dried marijuana, valued at nearly $1 million, police said. Two rifles were also seized, one from one of the grow sites in Shasta County and another from the Fairfield location, police said.

All 10 suspects arrested are suspected of cultivation and possession of marijuana for sale, according to police. One suspect, 33-year-old Mexican resident Ricardo Alvarado, ran from one of the sites during the service of the search warrant and was apprehended by a California Department of Fish and Wildlife K-9, police said. He was booked into Shasta County Jail on suspicion of delaying and obstructing a police officer.

Luis Sandoval, 56, of Richmond, in addition to drug arrests, was booked on felony suspicion of possession of a firearm after the firearm turned up in his car at one of the grow sites, police said. Jose Campos, 20, of Vacaville, was also booked on suspicion of possession of methamphetamine. The other seven men arrested are Samuel Gonzalez, 23, of Napa, Ricardo Nieves, 21, of Woodland, Oscar Panduro, 36, of Vacaville, Epigmenio Vargas, 33, of Fairfield, Adan Mendosa, 18, of Mexico and Salvador Cervantes, 22, of Fairfield.

The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information about the case is asked to call Vacaville police at (707) 449-5243.